This is THE best selling "Tarot of Marseilles". A reprint deck of the original celebrated Paul Marteau's 1930 edition, explained by him in his 1949 book featuring the same name.
Published by Grimaud (France Cartes) and Duserre with minor colour and paper differences, this was once considered by most experts to be the original so called "Marseille's" (IPCS IT-1) iconographic pattern: THE actual standard of the most known Tarot tradition.
However in recent years several ancient tarot decks and printing woodblocks by several makers from the 16th and 17th centuries (mostly not from Marseilles which only got them later) have been thoroughly inspected, restored and reproduced and this concept is no longer unanimously held. The so called "Marseille" Tarot originated most likely in Milan and was rapidly carried to France, being Lyon and Avignon the recorded historical centers of production and probable evolution during the 17th century. Also the original concept of the "Marseille" pattern seems to be very closely related to other, thought to be very distinct, ones such as the "Besançon" and the "Minchiate".
Marteau seems to have based his edition on late (1880) tarot editions copied from Lequart/Conver (18th century) decks using "evolved" images (Depaulis type 2) and "untraditional" simple colors probably to allow for simpler mechanical color printing. Also several pictures seem to have been slightly changed by Marteau himself.
Following this knowledge, lately several "veritable", "universal", "millennium", "Camoin-Jodorowski", etc. tarots have been published trying to reconstitute an ideal-original-pure long lost "Tarot of Marseilles" which presumably was the model for every (progressively changed) version that followed ending in the "distorted" Marteau's edition. The original colors and many (lost or imaginary) details in the cards have been recovered and new interpretations were added as a result.
Controversy apart, this widespread "purist" discussion is helping to shed more light on the original symbolism and allegory of the classic tarot deeply rooted on European Renaissance art, culture and mysticism.

This deck is indispensable for tarot lovers and collectors. ( )